Traction-engine.



AVABLEXBLE COPY Y J. M. SAILBR. TRACTION ENGINE. v APPLICATION FILED JULY15, 1910. 7 1,044,578; Patented N0v'.19;,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. M. SAILER.

TRACTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1910.

Patented NOV. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snow-tot :i-illlll ll VAI J. M. SAILER.

TRACTION ENGINE. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 15, 1910.

1,044,578. 7 Patented Nov. 19,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lnrlnton J. M. SAILER. TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1910.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W W li .tions being broken away to show nnrriin s rains PATENT? orrrcn.

' MUSSEB,

[JOHN M. SAILER, or JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, Assmnon or cum-Hem TO WILLIAM or IOWA CITY, IOWA.

TMGTION-ENGINE.

emme.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Nov. 19,1912.

application filed July 15, 1910. Serial No. 572,157.

To all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. Simian, a citizen of the United States, residing at Janesville, Wisconsin, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Traction- Engines, of which the ttdlowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in traction engines.

The main objects of this inventionare: First, to provide an improved traction engine which is very powerful in proportion to the power units of its driving motor.

Second, to provide an improved traction en; gine which may he manipulated and turned in a small space. l hird to provide in a traction engine traction wheels which may be adjusted to meet varyingconditions under which the engine may be operated.

Further objects. and objects relating to structural details. from the. detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the oliit ts ot my invention by the devices and lll 'rllllS described in 2 the following specification.

The structure i'leseribed constitutes one effective emlmdin'ieu't of my invention.

(lther embodiments would 'be iradilv devised by those slcilled in the art.

he invention is clearly detined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure constituting an eliective. and

preferred embodiment of the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the a econv panving drawing. torn'ng a part or this specification. in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a structure embodying the features or my invention, the meter not lacing; shown. it Q is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. porstructural details. and the adjustment of the casterwheei being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section taken on a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Fig.v

1. Fig. is a detail vertical section taken on av line corresponding to line t l of Fig. 3. showing details oi the driving connections. 5 is a detail vertical section talren on a line etn'responding to line 5--5 of Fig. 2. showine the cranks and connections for adjusting the tra n wheels. Fig. (3 "is enlarged detail v. t hen on a line corresponding: to 1 c--t3 of l 1g. 3., showing structural details of the traction will definitely appear,

journal is retained by Wheels. Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on a. line corresponding to line 7 --7 of Fig. 2, showing structural details of the hitch device. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the ditch deviceremoved from the frame. Fig. 9 is. a detail" perspective view of the rim or tread of the traction Wheels.

In the drawings, similar reference cha acters refer to similar parts throughout tle several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the frame 1 is shown in the drawing" largely in conventional'form, as its structural details form no artot the present invention. It will he understood that in practice. the frame will be made up of pieces suitably connected, whereas in the drawing. the frame '5 shown formed in one piece.

The engine. proper or motor. is not illus trated. lprelerablv use an explosion engine.

The axis oi the. traction wheels 2 is formed oi sections. as 3 and piet'erahlv provided with bearings :i and 6. The traction wheels are connected to the axle. sections by uni cereal joint connections so that they may be adjusted thereon relative to the vertical and horizontal. planes oi the avle for the purpose of steering, and

also to tilt the wheels and secure the best traction under varying conditions in the operation oi the engine. This universal joint connection consists of spherical hubs -T. On the axles are spherical bearing nembers S ha vine horizontally-disposal journals 9 arranged transversely of the axle, (see Figs. 25 :Iit'l 6). These journals areal-ranged through the axle, as illustrated. the axle, for convenience in asscmblinp'. being provided with a longitudinal. slot 10 in which the the screw '11. The intermediate spherical hearing members 12 are arr: nged on the bearing members 8 and jeurnaled on the journals 9 thereon. These intermediate bearing members 12 are provided with vertically-disposed journals 13, the hub being provided with suitable bearings 14 therefor. The intcrn'iediate bearing memlocr 12 coacts with the axle bearing member 8, and with the hub. .By this arrangement. a universal 'joint connection is secured for the wheels to the axle, which permits the tilting of the wheels relative to 4. each section being bearings for proved rims 34, having alternately-disposedthe vertical and horizontal planes of the axle.

For convenience in assembling, the wheels are provided with webs 15 to which the hubs are secured. The hubs are, for convenience in assen'ibling, formed of sections having flanges 16 and 17 therein, the flanges being secured together by rivets 18. The bearings let for the journals 13 are formed one half in each hub flange. The flange 16 is offsetcr shouldered at 19 to receive the web-15. The hub flanges are provided with annular the annular bearing members 21 to which the adjusting and supporting means for the wheels are connected. Each adjusting means consists of a shaft 22, ha ving threaded ends threaded into the con pling members 23, which are secured to the blocks it on the bearing members 21 by means of the pivots 25, the ends of the coupling members being forked to embrace the blocks. (See Figs 2 and The shafts 22 are supported in the elongated bearings 26, which permits a slight lateral movement of the shafts, the shafts being held against longitudinal movement by the collars 27. These shafts 22 are arranged one in the vertical and the other in the horizontal plane of the axle. For convenience in assembling, they are formed of sections secured together by clips 28. The shafts are adjust ed, in the structure illustrated, from the cranks 29, which are mounted on the stand ards 30 in convenient relation to the operator, the o erators seat or platform not being here i lnstrated as it would obscure cert-aln of the operative parts. The cranks are provided with sprocket wheels 31, which are connected to the sprocket wheels 32 on the shafts 22 by means of the sprocket chains 33. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) By this arrangement, the traction wheels can be adjusted or tilted relative to the horizontal as well as vertical lanes of their axle so that the steering is ofccted through the so that the greatest cured and the wheels adjusted slip ing on'side hills or the like.

M j improved traction engine is especially designed by me for use in hauling loads or for farm traction purposes, and it is desirable that the structure be as lightand simple as possible,.and, at the same time, be easily and conveniently operated.

I provide the traction wheels with imtractive power can be seto prevent V-shaped tapered grooves 35 therein. forming V-shaped lugs extending substantially across the tread, the lugs merging into each other, as clearly appears from the drawing. This form of rim or tread for the traction wheels is of especial advantage in connection with the tilting of thewheels.

be driving connections preferably eonsist of the driving shaft 36, which'in the traction wheels, and also through the pinion 54.

structure here illustrated. is the crank shaft of the motor. 011 this driving shaft is a pair of pinions 37 and 38, which are secured to the shaft by the clutch 23!), the clutch preferably being the structure shown in m copending {IIJPllt'illlOIl lilcd May 10,1910, Ser. No. 560,40l. The levers for actuating the clutches a'renot here illustrated.

On the axle section 3 are gears 40, ll, and t2, all of the same size. lhe gear 42 is fixed to the axle to revolve therewith. while the gears 40 and ll are revolubly mounted on the axle and arranged in mesh with the pinions 37 and 38, respectively on the drii ing shaft. linions 43 and it are fixed to the gears 40 and -:i1, respectively.

hranged parallel with the axle is a trans mission shaft 45. Fixed to this shall to revolve therewith is a gear l-t meshing; with the pinion 43. Rcvolubly mounted on (hr transmission shaft 45 is a gear l", niesh n with the pinion 44. Fixed to llll1- gear l i' t: revolve therewith is pinion t8 mesh ng with the gear 42 on the axle sections. A clutch 49 is provided for securing the ear :10 to the axle section 3.- 'hcn this clutch is in engagement, the axle section 5' is driven in a reverse direction. The shift ing means for this clutch 49 are not illustrated. On the axle section 4 is a gtar 30 arranged in mesh with the pinion 51 on the transmission shaft 15. The gears and pinious are of such dimensions that both axle. scizion nrc driven at the same speed, the section t b ing driven for one speed through the train of gears 38. 41,44, 47, 4-8 and 4;). while the other is 'driven through the train wt gears I17. 40,

43, l 5i and 50. it i.-; obvious: that the axle sections may be driven iiulepeniiently or simultaneously through the nuinipulation of the clutches 39. This is of advantage in steering the engine. The section 3 can be driven in a reverse direction by means of the clutchyl-f), as described. while the section 4 is driven in the IO\'(1' direction through the auxiliary transmission shaft- 552. which is connected to the main transmission shat't through the pinions 5? and to the gear 51') (See Figs. $1 and The pinions 51 and 53 are secured to their respective shafts by clutches which are adapted to be manipulated to disconnect both or connect either of the pinions. a double yoke 55 being prrwided to engage the shifting members of the clutch. the yoke being operated-through a post 56 which is extended into convenient reacl ot the operator. To provide another speed. I mount on the transmission shaft a gear 57 having a clutch connection therewitl. [he means for engaging the clutch 59 with the gear 57 are not here illustrated. I preferably secure to this gear a. drum or Windlass 5S.

Revolubly mounted on the axle section 4 'is a gear 60, having a hub-like clutch meat-- caster wheel 76.

77 which is mounted n the bearing 73 pro ber 61 thereon" and a clutch member 62 arranged within the member (31. (See Fi 3.) The gear is adapted to be shifted longitudinally to throw the clutches into engagement. Splined to the axle sections 3 and a are clutch members 63 and 64-, adapted to'coact with the clutch members (ll and 62, respectively on the gear 60. These clutch members ,are splined'to the axle section and are held yieldingly in position by the springs (55 carried by the collars 66 and 57, so that the clutches are permuted a ratchet action. The collar 66 is adapted to receive the inner ends of both axle sections, and also to serve as a bearing support for the clutch member 61, the parts thus assisting in keeping the shaft sections in alinenient. By this arrangement of parts, when the engine is driven through the gears 57 and G0, the axle sections are driven as a continuous axle. At the same time, in turning, variable speed is permitted. The drum 58, through this connection, may be driven independently or simultaneously with the axle. The advantage of this arrangement is that should the engine becomev stuck owing to the traction wheels striking soft or slippery ground, the rope 68 may be attached .to' some fixed object and the engine thus assisted;' or, the Windlass can be used for various purposes when running free from the axle, as for instance, when the engine is used in hauling hay, the Windlass can be used for hoisting it.

To assis in controlling the engine, I provide the traction wheels with independent brakes. These consist of the brake wheels 69 on the axle sections, having brake bands 70 thereon. These bands are controlled by the levers 71 which are pivoted to the frame at 72 and 73 and provided with laterallyprojecting arms 74 having foot pieces Y5 thereon. These foot pieces are disposed so that either may be engaged, or both at the same time.-

The engine is provided with a third or This wheel '-'l(l(.(l with means for clamping the spindle, as the bolt '79, the bearing being split. at 80. The bearing is support-ed on the arm'til, which is secured to ihntrame by the vertical pivot 82, the pivot being preferably a bolt so that the supporting arm may be clamped in its adji'isted positions, see dotted lines in Fig. 2. Tbe'bcaring 78 is supported in this arm by means of the horizontally-disposed pivot 83 a ranged in a suitable bearing in the supporting arm, the supporting arm being provided with clamping bolts 8 By this arrangement of thelhird or auxiliary wheel, it can be swung to one side. as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, or swung up out of operative position, as there illustrated. Then the engine is hitched to the tongue of a. wagon or a machine small as a harvester,

has a spindle the third wheel may be shifted to its inoperative position, or swung out of alinement with the tongue. I preferably provide the auxiliary wheel with a lever 85.

My improved hitch device consists of a pole holder 86, which is pivoted at 87 to the bracket 88. This bracket is pivotally mounted on the frame, the frame being provided with a bearing 89 for the disk-like bearing member 90 on the bracket. The pivot 91 for the bracket is centrally arranged relative to the bea ing 90. The pole holder 86 is provided with an eye 92 for the attachment of the draft; chain. The pole holder is provided with means whereby free vertical movement is permitted, or it may be clamped in its adjusted position. =This means consists of the rods 93, which arearranged through ears Set on the pole holder, the rods being threaded and provided with clamping nuts 95.

My improved traction engine is very easily handled or manipulated, and is very powerful in proportion to the power units of its driving motor, and is adapted for use under a very great variety of conditions. I have especially designed the same for farm purpose, although it is equally advantageous for road work. I desire to remark in this connection, that I am aware that my improved engine may be very greatly varied in structural details without departing from my invention. and I desire to be understood as claiming the same specifically in the form illustrated, as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Lettors Patent is:

1. Tina structure of the class described, the combination of the traction wheels: an axle spherical hubs for said wheels: spherical bearing members secured to said axle having journals arr nged transversely of said axle; intermediate spherical hear ing members arranged'on 'said bearing members on said axle and journaled on the said journals thereof to coact with said hubs, said intermediate bearing members being pi'oyided wi h journals for said hubs disposed atright. angles to the said journals of said bearing members. on said axle; and

means foradjusting said wheelson the said journals comprising hearings on said wheels: annular bearing members arranged thereon; shafts havingthreaded endsg' coupling members into which said shafts are threaded pivotallv connected to said annular bearing members; and bearings for said shafts.

2. In a structure of the alas the combination of the. traction wheels; an axle; spherical hubs for said wheels; spheri cal bearing members secured to said aXle and having journals arranged transversely described,

bearing members secured to said axle and having journals arranged transversely of said axle engagin the said slots therein, said bearing mem ers being sleeved upon said axle; screws threaded longitudinally into said axles to secure said journals, in said slots; and intermediate bearin membersarranged on said bearing mem ers on said axle and journaled on the said journals thereof, said intermediate bearing members being provided with journals for said wheels disposed at right angles to the said jour members on said axle. 4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of the traction wheels; an axle bearing member secured to said axle and having journals arranged transversely of said axle; and interlnediate bearing meming members arranged on said bearing members on said axle and journaled on the said journals thereof, said intermediate bearing members being provided with journals for said wh els disposed at right angles to the said j oui'nals' of said bearing members on said axle. i

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of the wheels; an'a'xle; bearings for said wheels comprising journals arranged transversely of the axle and secured thereto; bearing members journaled nals of said bearing I I right angles to said journals on said axle;

on said journals on said axle and provided I with journals for the I right angles to said journals on said axle; I and independently operatable means for adjusting said wheels on both of their said journals, for the purpose specified.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of the wheels; an axle; bearings for said wheels eomprisin journals arranged transversely of the ax e and secured thereto; bearing members journaled on said journals on said axle and provided with journals for said wheels arranged at and means for adjusting said wheels on their said journals comprising bearings on said wheels, annular bearing members arranged thereon, shafts having threaded ends, and coupling members into which said shafts are threaded pivotally connected to said annular =earing members, one of said shafts being disposed in a plane at right angles to the axes of each of said journals.

'7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of the wheels; an axle on which said wheels are mounted to be adjusted on axes disposed transversely to said axle; and means for adjusting said wheels on their said axes, comprising bearings on said wheels, annular bearing members arranged thereon, a shaft having threaded ends, l coupling members into which said shaft is threaded pivotally connected to said an- :nnlar bearing members, and bearings for i said shaft. 7 v

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses. i

I JOHN M. SAILER. [L. s.] Witnesses j JOHN CUNNINGHAM,

1 Com M. OBn nN.

wheels arran' ed at 

